Former Rugby Player in Court Over Cocaine Possession

Cocaine is the second most commonly abused drug; it is highly addictive, with individuals becoming hooked after even short periods of use. The substance produces feelings of euphoria, alertness and confidence, but the effects are relatively short-lived, and so users will quickly seek repeat doses to regain those feelings. The addiction to cocaine is a psychological addiction.

A Downward Spiral

Charles Keenan, who had played rugby for Scotland, had moved to Essex with his family to set up a property business. Speaking in court, he blamed tension between himself and his wife over the business for his addiction to cocaine. Describing how his experience with the drug began after being offered it in a pub, he said “I enjoyed it. It made me feel nice.” Describing his home life as making him feel inadequate as a businessman and useless at family life, his addiction to cocaine began to spiral out of control. The drug gave him a ‘buzz’ that he wasn’t getting from his everyday life.

As his drug addiction grew, he was using up to three grammes of cocaine several times a week and started to develop a friendship with Sam Claxton, his dealer. As his debts to Claxton grew to thousands of pounds, the dealer offered to write off what he owed if he would help him run the ‘business’. Keenan became responsible for several Claxton’s ‘books of accounts’, and a mobile phone used specifically for drug deals.

Keenan became entirely focussed on obtaining cocaine, with the first thing he did each morning being a line of the drug. He stated in court “I didn’t see it as a problem. I can’t explain addiction to you.” His work for Claxton involved waiting for phone messages, and then taking the phone to Claxton’s house, and recording sums as dictated by Claxton in the books he held.

Caught Red-Handed

In February 2016, Keenan, aged forty, was supposedly witnessed carrying a one-kilogram block of the drug into a house in Wickford. When police raided the house shortly afterwards, they found Claxton, Keenan’s’ dealer, wearing latex gloves and with his clothing covered in cocaine, cutting up a similar block into portions to sell. The house belonged to Claxton’s sister, who had previously admitted allowing her house to be used for the supply of drugs.

Immediately after the raid, both the books and the mobile phone were found in Keenan’s car, with the phone also containing messages to Keenan’s wife and pictures of his children. When questioned as to why he did what Claxton asked of him, his response was that he didn’t know what he was thinking.

He claimed that on the night of the raid he was visiting the house in order to go on a fishing trip with Claxton to a nearby lake. He told police that he regularly went fishing with Claxton and that on these trips large amounts of drugs were consumed.

Keenan denies the charge of possession with intent to supply, and claims that police watching the house mistook a bottle of wine and a pair of wellington boots for a package of drugs. In court, he said that he felt ‘uncomfortable’ when he saw the quantity of cocaine present in the kitchen and maintains that he tried to leave with just the six grammes of the drug that police found in his pocket. He was prevented, however, when the police raided the house. The trial is ongoing at the time of writing.

The Slippery Slope

This story shows how easy it is for drugs like cocaine to take over someone’s life. The constant desire for the euphoric feelings the drug creates become all-consuming until the person loses track of everything else.

If you are suffering from cocaine addiction, or have concerns about a loved one, Addiction Helper we can help. We work with many of the top recovery clinics in the United Kingdom, and we can provide advice and support to help you on your road to recovery, whether your addiction is recent or long-term. If you would like more information on addiction or how we can help you, then please do not hesitate to call us.

Source: Ex-rugby player tells court of addiction nightmare as he denies possession of 1kg of cocaine (Echo News)

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